"I have made a commitment that there will be no service delivery gaps as a result of this process.
"The structure of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy allows the Australian government to address service delivery gaps that are identified and we will continue to methodically work through any gaps which are identified, in consultation with providers and communities".
The reasons given for this included knowledge barriers and service delivery gaps; cultural, traditional beliefs and practices; and financial constraints.
GIS mapping can be effective in identifying service delivery gaps and presenting complex data into simplistic results hence can be recommended in need assessments in conflict settings.
Unfortunately, as in other areas of health service delivery, gaps remain between research and practice [ 14, 15]; and it is not clear how widely or well evidence-based interventions are implemented [ 16], nor the extent to which services are evaluated.
The resultant product is a census of health facilities throughout the country, and the ability to identify service delivery gaps and calculate the effective coverage of essential health services.
CCWs have great potential for expanding primary health care (PHC) by integrating these services, thereby bridging the current service delivery gaps in vertical TB, HIV and PMTCT programmes, yet in most settings they are under-utilized [ 12].
Nagel and colleagues [ 30] discussed the contradictory aspects of technology which can bridge service delivery gaps, but at the same time create a physical distance and a perception of losing human presence.
Given that funding for the ISHP is unlikely to be immediately available for the full spectrum of services, research such as presented here may assist in expanding the programme in a manner that specifically addresses perceived needs and service delivery gaps in individual provinces.
Previous reports of PMTCT programs in Malawi and elsewhere in SSA prior to Option B + —highlighted several service delivery gaps in the PMTCT cascade, including low uptake of HTC, suboptimal provision of ART to qualifying HIV-infected pregnant women, and inadequate HIV testing among HIV-exposed infants [ 13, 45– 45].
